Objective: To observe the effect of the immunonanoparticles loaded with adriamycin in reversing multidrug resistance (MDR) in liver cancer in a nude mouse model and explore the possible mechanisms.
Methods: The cytotoxicity of adriamycin, adriamycin-loaded nanoparticles, and adriamycin-loaded immunonanoparticles was assessed in a nude mouse model bearing implant tumors of adriamycin-resistant hepatoma cell line SMMC-7721/ADM. The concentration of adriamycin in the tumor tissue was determined.
Results: Adriamycin-loaded immunonanoparticles showed significantly stronger cytotoxicity against the implant tumors of SMMC-7721/ADM than adriamycin-loaded nanoparticles and adriamycin. Administration of adriamycin-loaded immunonanoparticles resulted in significantly higher drug concentrations in the tumor tissue than adriamycin-loaded nanoparticles and adriamycin.
Conclusion: Adriamycin-loaded immunonanoparticles may reverse the MDR of liver cancers in vivo probably resulting from the close binding of the particles with the tumor cells to produce a high local concentration of adriamycin in the tumors.